Timber Manager

About the Company

We are a globally oriented forestry and natural resource organization dedicated to responsible forest stewardship, sustainable timber production, environmental sustainability, and optimal resource management. Our focus is on maintaining forest health, biodiversity conservation, regulatory compliance, consistent timber quality, reliable supply chains, worker safety, and the sustainable management of resources over the long term.

Role Overview

The Timber Manager will be responsible for overseeing all facets of timber resource management, including harvest operations, forest inventory and planning, contractor and logistics management, timber sales, compliance adherence, and operational efficiency. Combining deep forestry knowledge with commercial and analytical skills, the manager will strive to maximize sustainable timber value while safeguarding forest ecosystems.

Key Responsibilities

• Formulate and execute timber management strategies supporting sustainable forestry principles.
• Create harvesting plans utilizing forest inventory data, growth analyses, stand conditions, market trends, and regulatory frameworks.
• Oversee timber inventory metrics, volume estimations, species diversity, stand quality, and harvest availability.
• Coordinate timber cruising, forest assessments, sample collection, mapping, and inventory updates.
• Track forest growth, regeneration rates, productivity, and long-term timber supply forecasts.
• Develop both annual and long-range harvesting schedules.
• Manage all harvesting activities, including cutting, extraction, loading, transport, and delivery.
• Select suitable harvesting techniques considering terrain, forest conditions, environmental mandates, and operational goals.
• Supervise logging contractors, forestry teams, equipment operators, transportation providers, and service partners.
• Define contractor specifications concerning productivity, quality, safety, environmental impact, and delivery expectations.
• Monitor harvesting productivity, resource utilization, costs, and adherence to schedules.
• Ensure harvested timber complies with species, dimension, grading, moisture, and quality standards.
• Manage processes for timber sorting, grading, measuring, storage, and inventory reconciliation.
• Oversee timber yards, storage facilities, loading docks, and material handling where applicable.
• Optimize timber transportation logistics, routes, delivery scheduling, and cost minimization.
• Maintain relationships with sawmills, processors, manufacturers, traders, customers, and buyers.
• Support timber sales activities, pricing strategies, contract negotiations, and customer commitments.
• Monitor market trends, demand fluctuations, species preferences, and new business opportunities.
• Prepare forecasts, sales plans, budgets, and revenue projections related to timber production.
• Manage budgets covering operational expenses, harvesting costs, contractor fees, transportation costs, and capital needs.
• Keep accurate records on timber volumes harvested, sold, transported, stored, and inventory balances.
• Utilize GIS, remote sensing, forestry software, inventory platforms, and digital mapping tools to enhance resource planning.
• Supervise maintenance of forest roads, bridges, access routes, loading zones, and harvesting infrastructure.
• Coordinate construction and upkeep of forest roads while limiting environmental impacts.
• Implement protective measures for soil, waterways, wildlife habitats, and ecologically sensitive areas during harvesting.
• Ensure all harvesting complies with approved forest management plans and environmental regulations.
• Support reforestation, regeneration, thinning, restoration, and post-harvest activities.
• Monitor regeneration success and apply corrective actions as needed.
• Implement strategies to reduce timber damage, waste, breakage, and unnecessary loss.
• Establish quality control protocols for timber measurement, grading, handling, and inventory oversight.
• Investigate inconsistencies in timber volumes, quality, delivery, or contractor performance.
• Maintain rigorous health and safety standards throughout harvesting, transport, equipment use, and fieldwork.
• Conduct risk assessments and enforce appropriate safety controls.
• Prepare emergency response plans for severe weather, wildfires, equipment failures, accidents, and other forestry emergencies.
• Ensure contractors and staff receive adequate safety, environmental, and operational training.
• Manage permits, licenses, harvest documentation, environmental records, and compliance reporting.
• Coordinate with forestry authorities, environmental groups, landowners, local communities, and other stakeholders.
• Produce management reports on timber inventory, harvesting results, costs, sales, quality, compliance, and sustainability achievements.
• Identify opportunities to improve timber recovery, operational efficiency, profitability, and resource use.
• Assess new harvesting technologies, remote monitoring, mechanization, automation, and data-centric forestry methods.
• Lead initiatives for continuous improvement focused on sustainable timber yields and forest value enhancement.

Performance Indicators

• Annual sustainable harvest volumes.
• Accuracy of timber inventory data.
• Productivity rates during harvesting operations.
• Timber recovery and utilization metrics.
• Quality and grade adherence of timber products.
• Rates of timber waste and damage.
• Cost efficiency per unit of harvested timber.
• Contractor productivity and compliance adherence.
• Adherence to harvesting schedules.
• Reliability of timber deliveries.
• Efficiency of transportation costs.
• Volume and revenue from timber sales.
• Average selling prices by product and grade categories.
• Customer satisfaction levels.
• Inventory turnover rates.
• Success of forest regeneration efforts.
• Compliance with post-harvest environmental guidelines.
• Effectiveness of soil and water conservation.
• Frequency of environmental incidents.
• Safety performance of workers.
• Compliance with forestry regulations.
• Availability and condition of forest roads.
• Equipment usage and operational uptime.
• Budget compliance and management.
• Accuracy of forecasts.
• Performance of suppliers and contractors.
• Sustainability certifications and performance.
• Outcomes of continuous improvement activities in savings and productivity.

Ideal Candidate Profile

• Extensive experience in forestry, timber operations, logging, natural resource management, or a related sector, preferably in commercial forestry or large-scale timber enterprises.
• Comprehensive understanding of timber harvesting practices, forest inventories, wood product markets, and sustainable forestry methods.
• Knowledge of forest growth dynamics, stand management, and timber valuation techniques.
• Experience supervising harvesting contractors, forestry crews, logistics vendors, and field operations.
• Insight into timber measurement, grading, sorting, handling, and inventory control systems.
• Experience with timber sales, client relations, contract management, pricing strategies, and market dynamics.
• Proficiency with GIS, GPS, remote sensing, forest inventory software, and forestry management systems.
• Strong grasp of environmental protection, conservation initiatives, and regulatory compliance in forestry.
• Proven track record managing budgets, procurement processes, contractors, and resource allocation.
• Excellent analytical thinking and business decision-making skills.
• Outstanding planning, organization, negotiation, and stakeholder engagement abilities.
• Deep knowledge of forestry health and safety standards.
• Capability to oversee multiple harvesting projects, contractors, deadlines, and operational hazards simultaneously.
• Exceptional communication skills in English, both written and verbal.
• Strong problem-solving aptitude with meticulous attention to operational details.
• Commitment to sustainability, commercial acumen, data-driven methodologies, and ongoing process improvements.